Ogilvy PR is looking to hire an experienced and ambitious Account Director to join its award-winning corporate and public affairs practice and part of the Holmes Report 2015 UK Agency of Year.

The successful candidate will be able to lead complex international accounts on day to day basis, adding value through his or her corporate communications and B2B knowledge, client handling and account management skills. Experience in upstream oil and gas an advantage as well as knowledge of issues and crisis. Insight and understanding of OPR’s wider specialisms including brand purpose and sustainability, internal comms, creative and content would also stand the candidate in good stead.

This is a great opportunity to join a winning and fast-growing team at the UK’s leading integrated communications agency. OPR London is one of the core offices in OPR’s global network. It drives its EMEA activities and works with teams in North and South America and across Asia-Pacific frequently.

An Account Director provides leadership on their accounts, inspiring the highest standards in all team members whilst directing the Agency’s longer term relationship with the Client. As an Account Director you are responsible for developing strong and enduring Client relationships by acting as a partner in developing marketing strategy, adding value to the Client’s business. In addition to adopting overall management of key accounts you will also be responsible for the line management of other members of the client services team. We would also expect you to be involved in new business opportunities when they arise.

Knowledge areas

Understands all aspects of the brand and the dynamics operating in the market, as well as the challenges facing clients’ business in the short to midterm.

Applies innovative thinking to the development of insightful communication strategies and a longer term brand vision

Be a sound judge of creative work, able to coherently argue the case for or against creative work based on the brief and factual accuracy, both internally and with the Client.

A good cross-discipline understanding, i.e. an up-to-date grasp of planning and media tools, print and production techniques, and below-the-line communication channels including PR, Sales Promotion, Direct Marketing, Sponsorship and Interactive.

Presenting agency work in a clear, persuasive way

Long term project planning; working with the production controller to develop long-term WIPs to ensure resource is in place & projects timings are planned efficiently

Monthly forecasts and updates to report to agency management team

Ensure contracts are negotiated and in place for existing and new clients

Negotiation of fee and other rates with new clients

Proactively look for ways to improve the agency’s processes, agree and launch any changes to wider team

Scope of work negotiations with existing clients

Responsible for regular client/agency reviews & follow up on all active

Accounts

Task Areas:

Be the Client’s point of contact on strategic, creative and resource issues.

Involve sister companies as appropriate to provide 360º solutions to the Client’s business.

Preparation of creative and small job briefs & guidance to account managers to develop these

Actively drive client activity if appropriate and suggest strategic and tactical solutions to their marketing objectives

Developing existing clients by using contacts / database to follow up leads and create new opportunity

once strategy agreed with new business team

Oversee and manage pitches

Monitor and report back on account and team KPIs

Share account servicing best practice across the agency

Identify and flag opportunities for billable projects

Flag up current/potential issues to the client

Generate ideas for new campaigns and see them through to completion

Monitor media liaison procedures and suggest improvements

Creative Management:

Provides an overall vision and direction for the creative work and ensuring it is set in the correct business context

Responsible for setting the creative context on the business: knowing what type of communication the brand needs, understanding what the client

Is an excellent judge of creative work and assumes responsibility for the quality of creative ideas that are presented to the Client

Gives serious consideration to the best way to sell creative work through the Client – and then does so with total conviction

Takes overall responsibility for client approvals, ensuring that the client is managed effectively through the process

Actively seeks to inspire creative team from the outset through innovative briefing techniques, providing an overall vision and direction for the creative work, ensuring it is set in the correct business context

Ensure Creative teams remain motivated and enthused from the moment of briefing to the final stages of production

Required Experience:

B2b account handling experience working in an agency, in Account Management.

Experience at AD level or above

Experience of introducing Digital into Client briefs.

Experience of Global clients.

Previous line management experience of a team.

Experience of preparing and delivering presentations / proposals of a strategic nature.

Removal Date 21-Apr-2017

About Ogilvy

Ogilvy is an international marketing communications agency that’s committed to building highly successful brands through creative advertising campaigns.